Revision history for EraPreChanges
Revision [777]
Last edited on 2010-05-12 17:52:25 by BaxilDragon [Minor corrections. Template box? (y/N) >]Additions:
~{{color bg="#FC345C" text=" 1 "}} EraDragonInTheStreets (12/96)
~{{color bg="#FA8072" text=" 2 "}} EraTheShockSettlesIn (12/96)
~{{color bg="#EFCAA9" text=" 3 "}} EraNationOnTheBrink (1/97)
~{{color bg="#EEE87A" text=" 4 "}} EraSchismAndStalemate (1/97)
~{{color bg="#00FF00" text=" 5 "}} EraFromCausesToCrusades (2-8/97)
~{{color bg="#00FFFF" text=" 6 "}} EraWinterOfDiscontent (8-12/97)
~{{color bg="#87CEEB" text=" 7 "}} EraANewWorldOrder (1998+)
~{{color bg="#9A8AFD" text=" 8 "}} EraOverTheHorizon (2007+)
{{category header="" exclude="Category,Era,Story,Culturalia,Event,Template" col="4"}}
~{{color bg="#FA8072" text=" 2 "}} EraTheShockSettlesIn (12/96)
~{{color bg="#EFCAA9" text=" 3 "}} EraNationOnTheBrink (1/97)
~{{color bg="#EEE87A" text=" 4 "}} EraSchismAndStalemate (1/97)
~{{color bg="#00FF00" text=" 5 "}} EraFromCausesToCrusades (2-8/97)
~{{color bg="#00FFFF" text=" 6 "}} EraWinterOfDiscontent (8-12/97)
~{{color bg="#87CEEB" text=" 7 "}} EraANewWorldOrder (1998+)
~{{color bg="#9A8AFD" text=" 8 "}} EraOverTheHorizon (2007+)
{{category header="" exclude="Category,Era,Story,Culturalia,Event,Template" col="4"}}
Deletions:
~{{color bg="#FA8072" text=" 2 "}} EraTheShockSettlesIn (12/96)
~{{color bg="#EFCAA9" text=" 3 "}} EraNationOnTheBrink (1/97)
~{{color bg="#EEE87A" text=" 4 "}} EraSchismAndStalemate (1/97)
~{{color bg="#00FF00" text=" 5 "}} EraFromCausesToCrusades (2-8/97)
~{{color bg="#00FFFF" text=" 6 "}} EraWinterOfDiscontent (8-12/97)
~{{color bg="#87CEEB" text=" 7 "}} EraANewWorldOrder (1998+)
~{{color bg="#9A8AFD" text=" 8 "}} EraOverTheHorizon (2007+)
{{category header="" exclude="Category,Era,Story,Culturalia,Event" col="4"}}
Revision [769]
Edited on 2010-05-11 19:27:42 by BaxilDragon [Rewrite; shifted some material to TheChanges]Additions:
{{category header="" exclude="Category,Era,Story,Culturalia,Event" col="4"}}
Deletions:
Revision [767]
Edited on 2010-05-11 13:57:30 by BaxilDragon [Rewrite; shifted some material to TheChanges]Additions:
@@""<<"" [[EraPreHistory Previous Era]] * [[EraDragonInTheStreets Next Era]] "">>""@@
~{{color bg="#A0B0C0" text=" pre "}} [[EraPreHistory Pre-History]]
Until the final days of 1996, the recorded human history of The Tomorrowlands Universe was almost indistinguishable from our own.
**Human** history, because -- after the 2010 discovery of the remains of a [[EraPreHistory primitive dinosaur civilization]] -- there's evidence suggesting something amazing occurred in the distant past.
And **almost** indistinguishable, because there are hints that strange things were going on behind the scenes even before EventTheFirstSighting brought TheChanges to the attention of the planet.
Those hints include all the paranormal events our own world sees, which took on new significance in light of The Changes. (Often cited is the "statistically significant increase in paranormal sightings" one study found in looking through early December 1996 newspapers, though statisticians widely argue over that study's counting methodology and sample size, and follow-up studies haven't clarified the situation any.) Also widely discussed are any of a number of theris who claim to have transformed before EventTheFirstSighting -- the so-called "Zeds" or [[TherianthropeWaves Zeroth Wave]] theris -- although their stories are conveniently free of objective verification and most dismiss them as publicity seekers. Reports of genuine pre-Changes magic, or odd encounters with supernatural forces, are likewise tenuous.
How far back into human history that strangeness extends depends on who you talk to. Some TTU residents, with the wisdom of hindsight, claim that Nostradamus predicted it all, or that all of human history was leading to The Changes, or produce complex numerological calculations supposedly resolving to whatever moment they claim things //really// began. One amateur physicist claimed that magic's appearance was a time echo caused by the explosion of the first nuclear bomb, complete with sine-wave diagrams peaking at presidential assassination attempts. The less conspiracy-minded shrug and acknowledge The First Sighting as the start of everything that followed -- although EventTheMissingMoment gives many pause.
And no matter how many college students stay up until sunrise arguing the question, what might have actually //caused// this shift (or return) is a matter of [[TheChanges pure speculation]]. All that can be said for certain is that life went on doing its usual thing until a dragon was caught on camera one cold winter afternoon.
It might be interesting to inject an unverifiable and mysterious note of the occult into historical fiction as sort of a TTU "prequel," but canon issues are a potential obstacle.
All TTU characters are entitled to their own explanations for when and how things started, but //direct experience with TTU-type forces in the pre-Changes era is both rare and tenuous.// If anything odd happened to a character before EventTheFirstSighting, it should be either explicable by coincidence; unverifiable and not particularly believable; or else within the boundaries of what magic can currently do in the "real world."
~{{color bg="#A0B0C0" text=" pre "}} [[EraPreHistory Pre-History]]
Until the final days of 1996, the recorded human history of The Tomorrowlands Universe was almost indistinguishable from our own.
**Human** history, because -- after the 2010 discovery of the remains of a [[EraPreHistory primitive dinosaur civilization]] -- there's evidence suggesting something amazing occurred in the distant past.
And **almost** indistinguishable, because there are hints that strange things were going on behind the scenes even before EventTheFirstSighting brought TheChanges to the attention of the planet.
Those hints include all the paranormal events our own world sees, which took on new significance in light of The Changes. (Often cited is the "statistically significant increase in paranormal sightings" one study found in looking through early December 1996 newspapers, though statisticians widely argue over that study's counting methodology and sample size, and follow-up studies haven't clarified the situation any.) Also widely discussed are any of a number of theris who claim to have transformed before EventTheFirstSighting -- the so-called "Zeds" or [[TherianthropeWaves Zeroth Wave]] theris -- although their stories are conveniently free of objective verification and most dismiss them as publicity seekers. Reports of genuine pre-Changes magic, or odd encounters with supernatural forces, are likewise tenuous.
How far back into human history that strangeness extends depends on who you talk to. Some TTU residents, with the wisdom of hindsight, claim that Nostradamus predicted it all, or that all of human history was leading to The Changes, or produce complex numerological calculations supposedly resolving to whatever moment they claim things //really// began. One amateur physicist claimed that magic's appearance was a time echo caused by the explosion of the first nuclear bomb, complete with sine-wave diagrams peaking at presidential assassination attempts. The less conspiracy-minded shrug and acknowledge The First Sighting as the start of everything that followed -- although EventTheMissingMoment gives many pause.
And no matter how many college students stay up until sunrise arguing the question, what might have actually //caused// this shift (or return) is a matter of [[TheChanges pure speculation]]. All that can be said for certain is that life went on doing its usual thing until a dragon was caught on camera one cold winter afternoon.
It might be interesting to inject an unverifiable and mysterious note of the occult into historical fiction as sort of a TTU "prequel," but canon issues are a potential obstacle.
All TTU characters are entitled to their own explanations for when and how things started, but //direct experience with TTU-type forces in the pre-Changes era is both rare and tenuous.// If anything odd happened to a character before EventTheFirstSighting, it should be either explicable by coincidence; unverifiable and not particularly believable; or else within the boundaries of what magic can currently do in the "real world."
Deletions:
Until the final days of 1996, the history of the Tomorrowlands universe was almost indistinguishable from our own.
//Almost// indistinguishable, because there are hints that something was going on behind the scenes even before EventTheFirstSighting brought TheChanges to the attention of the planet.
How far back those hints extend depends on who you talk to. Some TTU residents, with the wisdom of hindsight, claim that all of Earth history was leading to this moment, or produce complex numerological calculations supposedly resolving to whatever moment they claim things began. Any number of mages, up to and including CharacterDennisRedwing, are of the opinion that magic was suppressed for some period of Earth history and TheChanges marked its return. One amateur physicist claimed it was a time echo caused by the explosion of the first nuclear bomb, complete with sine-wave diagrams peaking at presidential assassination attempts. The less conspiracy-minded generally discount all of this, although EventTheMissingMoment gives many pause.
Whatever the historical theory might be, the evidence cited usually includes the "statistically significant increase in paranormal sightings" one study found in looking through early December 1996 newspapers. (Statisticians widely argue over that study's counting methodology and sample size, and follow-up studies haven't clarified the situation any.) Also widely cited are any of a number of theris who claim to have transformed before EventTheFirstSighting -- the so-called "Zeds" or [[TherianthropeWaves Zeroth Wave]] theris -- although their stories are conveniently free of verifiable facts and most dismiss them as publicity seekers.
One popular theory -- though it's strenuously denied by the man himself -- is that TheChanges are all the product of Redwing's appearance and that he's the key to it all. Redwing, for his part, argued in WeWalkAmongYou that the Earth itself was waking up, and that that process began long before December 1996 (though he "refuses to speculate" when it might have started). Others blame aliens or an advanced intelligence or a cabal of secret world masters, all of whom are functionally making the same argument as the many Christians who describe it as the will of God. Some see no rhyme or reason to it, just a random hiccup of the universe.
But no matter how many college students stay up until sunrise arguing the question, what might have actually //caused// this shift (or return) is a matter of pure speculation. All that can be said for certain is that life went on doing its usual thing until a dragon was caught on camera one cold winter afternoon.
It might be interesting to inject an unverifiable and mysterious note of the occult into historical fiction as sort of a TTU "prequel," but canon issues would be an obstacle.
All TTU characters are entitled to their own explanations for when and how things started, but actual experience with TTU-type forces pre-Changes is both rare and tenuous. If anything odd happened to a character before EventTheFirstSighting, it should be either explicable by coincidence; unverifiable and not particularly believable; or else within the boundaries of what magic can currently do in the "real world."
==Notes==
Additions:
@@ [[EraDragonInTheStreets Next Era]] "">>""@@
~{{color bg="#A0B0C0" text=" pre "}} ''""Pre-Changes""''
~{{color bg="#FC345C" text=" 1 "}} EraDragonInTheStreets (12/96)
~{{color bg="#FA8072" text=" 2 "}} EraTheShockSettlesIn (12/96)
~{{color bg="#EFCAA9" text=" 3 "}} EraNationOnTheBrink (1/97)
~{{color bg="#EEE87A" text=" 4 "}} EraSchismAndStalemate (1/97)
~{{color bg="#00FF00" text=" 5 "}} EraFromCausesToCrusades (2-8/97)
~{{color bg="#00FFFF" text=" 6 "}} EraWinterOfDiscontent (8-12/97)
~{{color bg="#87CEEB" text=" 7 "}} EraANewWorldOrder (1998+)
~{{color bg="#9A8AFD" text=" 8 "}} EraOverTheHorizon (2007+)
~{{color bg="#A0B0C0" text=" pre "}} ''""Pre-Changes""''
~{{color bg="#FC345C" text=" 1 "}} EraDragonInTheStreets (12/96)
~{{color bg="#FA8072" text=" 2 "}} EraTheShockSettlesIn (12/96)
~{{color bg="#EFCAA9" text=" 3 "}} EraNationOnTheBrink (1/97)
~{{color bg="#EEE87A" text=" 4 "}} EraSchismAndStalemate (1/97)
~{{color bg="#00FF00" text=" 5 "}} EraFromCausesToCrusades (2-8/97)
~{{color bg="#00FFFF" text=" 6 "}} EraWinterOfDiscontent (8-12/97)
~{{color bg="#87CEEB" text=" 7 "}} EraANewWorldOrder (1998+)
~{{color bg="#9A8AFD" text=" 8 "}} EraOverTheHorizon (2007+)
Deletions:
~{{color bg="slategray" text=" pre "}} ''Pre-Changes''
~{{color bg="crimson" text=" 1 "}} EraDragonInTheStreets (12/96)
~{{color bg="salmon" text=" 2 "}} EraTheShockSettlesIn (12/96)
~{{color bg="peachpuff" text=" 3 "}} EraNationOnTheBrink (1/97)
~{{color bg="palegoldenrod" text=" 4 "}} EraSchismAndStalemate (1/97)
~{{color bg="lime" text=" 5 "}} EraFromCausesToCrusades (2-8/97)
~{{color bg="cyan" text=" 6 "}} EraWinterOfDiscontent (8-12/97)
~{{color bg="skyblue" text=" 7 "}} EraANewWorldOrder (1998+)
~{{color bg="slateblue" text=" 8 "}} EraOverTheHorizon (2007+)
Additions:
Whatever the historical theory might be, the evidence cited usually includes the "statistically significant increase in paranormal sightings" one study found in looking through early December 1996 newspapers. (Statisticians widely argue over that study's counting methodology and sample size, and follow-up studies haven't clarified the situation any.) Also widely cited are any of a number of theris who claim to have transformed before EventTheFirstSighting -- the so-called "Zeds" or [[TherianthropeWaves Zeroth Wave]] theris -- although their stories are conveniently free of verifiable facts and most dismiss them as publicity seekers.
One popular theory -- though it's strenuously denied by the man himself -- is that TheChanges are all the product of Redwing's appearance and that he's the key to it all. Redwing, for his part, argued in WeWalkAmongYou that the Earth itself was waking up, and that that process began long before December 1996 (though he "refuses to speculate" when it might have started). Others blame aliens or an advanced intelligence or a cabal of secret world masters, all of whom are functionally making the same argument as the many Christians who describe it as the will of God. Some see no rhyme or reason to it, just a random hiccup of the universe.
One popular theory -- though it's strenuously denied by the man himself -- is that TheChanges are all the product of Redwing's appearance and that he's the key to it all. Redwing, for his part, argued in WeWalkAmongYou that the Earth itself was waking up, and that that process began long before December 1996 (though he "refuses to speculate" when it might have started). Others blame aliens or an advanced intelligence or a cabal of secret world masters, all of whom are functionally making the same argument as the many Christians who describe it as the will of God. Some see no rhyme or reason to it, just a random hiccup of the universe.
Deletions:
One popular theory, vigorously denied by the man himself, is that TheChanges are all the product of Redwing's appearance and that he's the key to it all. Redwing, for his part, argued in WeWalkAmongYou that the Earth itself was waking up, and that that process began long before December 1996 (though he refuses to offer further detail of when it might have started). Others blame aliens or an advanced intelligence or a cabal of secret world masters, all of whom are functionally making the same argument as the many Christians who describe it as the will of God. Some see no rhyme or reason to it, just a random hiccup of the universe.
Additions:
{{category header="" only="Story,Culturalia" col="4"}}
{{category exclude="Category,Era,Story,Culturalia,Event"}}
{{category exclude="Category,Era,Story,Culturalia,Event"}}
Deletions:
{{category exclude="Category,Era,Story,Event"}}
Additions:
**Starts at:** N/A
**Ends at:** EventTheFirstSighting
==Major Events==
**Ends at:** EventTheFirstSighting
==Major Events==
Deletions:
**Ends with:** EventTheFirstSighting
==Other Major Events==
Additions:
{{category header="" only="Event"}}
===Stories Set In This Era===
{{category header="" only="Story"}}
===Other Associated Pages===
{{category exclude="Category,Era,Story,Event"}}
===Stories Set In This Era===
{{category header="" only="Story"}}
===Other Associated Pages===
{{category exclude="Category,Era,Story,Event"}}
Deletions:
==Associated Stories==
{{category}}
""//""//this needs to be filtered per WikiToDo -b//
Additions:
~{{color bg="slategray" text=" pre "}} ''Pre-Changes''
Deletions:
Additions:
~{{color bg="cyan" text=" 6 "}} EraWinterOfDiscontent (8-12/97)
~{{color bg="skyblue" text=" 7 "}} EraANewWorldOrder (1998+)
~{{color bg="slateblue" text=" 8 "}} EraOverTheHorizon (2007+)
One popular theory, vigorously denied by the man himself, is that TheChanges are all the product of Redwing's appearance and that he's the key to it all. Redwing, for his part, argued in WeWalkAmongYou that the Earth itself was waking up, and that that process began long before December 1996 (though he refuses to offer further detail of when it might have started). Others blame aliens or an advanced intelligence or a cabal of secret world masters, all of whom are functionally making the same argument as the many Christians who describe it as the will of God. Some see no rhyme or reason to it, just a random hiccup of the universe.
~{{color bg="skyblue" text=" 7 "}} EraANewWorldOrder (1998+)
~{{color bg="slateblue" text=" 8 "}} EraOverTheHorizon (2007+)
One popular theory, vigorously denied by the man himself, is that TheChanges are all the product of Redwing's appearance and that he's the key to it all. Redwing, for his part, argued in WeWalkAmongYou that the Earth itself was waking up, and that that process began long before December 1996 (though he refuses to offer further detail of when it might have started). Others blame aliens or an advanced intelligence or a cabal of secret world masters, all of whom are functionally making the same argument as the many Christians who describe it as the will of God. Some see no rhyme or reason to it, just a random hiccup of the universe.
Deletions:
~{{color bg="skyblue" text=" 7 "}} EraANewWorldOrder
~{{color bg="slateblue" text=" 8 "}} EraOverTheHorizon
One popular theory, vigorously denied by the man himself, is that TheChanges are all the product of Redwing's appearance and that he's the key to it all. Redwing himself argued in a book that the Earth itself was waking up, and that that process began long before December 1996 (though he refuses to offer further detail of when it might have started). Others blame aliens or an advanced intelligence or a cabal of secret world masters, all of whom are functionally making the same argument as the many Christians who describe it as the will of God. Some see no rhyme or reason to it, just a random hiccup of the universe.
Additions:
**Ends with:** EventTheFirstSighting
//Almost// indistinguishable, because there are hints that something was going on behind the scenes even before EventTheFirstSighting brought TheChanges to the attention of the planet.
How far back those hints extend depends on who you talk to. Some TTU residents, with the wisdom of hindsight, claim that all of Earth history was leading to this moment, or produce complex numerological calculations supposedly resolving to whatever moment they claim things began. Any number of mages, up to and including CharacterDennisRedwing, are of the opinion that magic was suppressed for some period of Earth history and TheChanges marked its return. One amateur physicist claimed it was a time echo caused by the explosion of the first nuclear bomb, complete with sine-wave diagrams peaking at presidential assassination attempts. The less conspiracy-minded generally discount all of this, although EventTheMissingMoment gives many pause.
Whatever the historical theory might be, the evidence cited usually includes the "statistically significant increase in paranormal sightings" one study found in looking through early December 1996 newspapers. (Statisticians widely argue over that study's counting methodology and sample size, and follow-up studies haven't clarified the situation any.) Also widely cited are any of a number of theris who claim to have transformed before EventTheFirstSighting, although their stories are conveniently free of verifiable facts and most dismiss them as publicity seekers.
EventTheMissingMoment
Writing stories wholly set in this era is a difficult proposition; there isn't really anything unique about TTU until EventTheFirstSighting kicks off the transformations and magic. It might be useful for flashbacks, exposition, or history.
All TTU characters are entitled to their own explanations for when and how things started, but actual experience with TTU-type forces pre-Changes is both rare and tenuous. If anything odd happened to a character before EventTheFirstSighting, it should be either explicable by coincidence; unverifiable and not particularly believable; or else within the boundaries of what magic can currently do in the "real world."
//Almost// indistinguishable, because there are hints that something was going on behind the scenes even before EventTheFirstSighting brought TheChanges to the attention of the planet.
How far back those hints extend depends on who you talk to. Some TTU residents, with the wisdom of hindsight, claim that all of Earth history was leading to this moment, or produce complex numerological calculations supposedly resolving to whatever moment they claim things began. Any number of mages, up to and including CharacterDennisRedwing, are of the opinion that magic was suppressed for some period of Earth history and TheChanges marked its return. One amateur physicist claimed it was a time echo caused by the explosion of the first nuclear bomb, complete with sine-wave diagrams peaking at presidential assassination attempts. The less conspiracy-minded generally discount all of this, although EventTheMissingMoment gives many pause.
Whatever the historical theory might be, the evidence cited usually includes the "statistically significant increase in paranormal sightings" one study found in looking through early December 1996 newspapers. (Statisticians widely argue over that study's counting methodology and sample size, and follow-up studies haven't clarified the situation any.) Also widely cited are any of a number of theris who claim to have transformed before EventTheFirstSighting, although their stories are conveniently free of verifiable facts and most dismiss them as publicity seekers.
EventTheMissingMoment
Writing stories wholly set in this era is a difficult proposition; there isn't really anything unique about TTU until EventTheFirstSighting kicks off the transformations and magic. It might be useful for flashbacks, exposition, or history.
All TTU characters are entitled to their own explanations for when and how things started, but actual experience with TTU-type forces pre-Changes is both rare and tenuous. If anything odd happened to a character before EventTheFirstSighting, it should be either explicable by coincidence; unverifiable and not particularly believable; or else within the boundaries of what magic can currently do in the "real world."
Deletions:
//Almost// indistinguishable, because there are hints that something was going on behind the scenes even before TheFirstSighting brought TheChanges to the attention of the planet.
How far back those hints extend depends on who you talk to. Some TTU residents, with the wisdom of hindsight, claim that all of Earth history was leading to this moment, or produce complex numerological calculations supposedly resolving to whatever moment they claim things began. Any number of mages, up to and including CharacterDennisRedwing, are of the opinion that magic was suppressed for some period of Earth history and TheChanges marked its return. One amateur physicist claimed it was a time echo caused by the explosion of the first nuclear bomb, complete with sine-wave diagrams peaking at presidential assassination attempts. The less conspiracy-minded generally discount all of this, although TheMissingMoment gives many pause.
Whatever the historical theory might be, the evidence cited usually includes the "statistically significant increase in paranormal sightings" one study found in looking through early December 1996 newspapers. (Statisticians widely argue over that study's counting methodology and sample size, and follow-up studies haven't clarified the situation any.) Also widely cited are any of a number of theris who claim to have transformed before TheFirstSighting, although their stories are conveniently free of verifiable facts and most dismiss them as publicity seekers.
TheMissingMoment
Writing stories wholly set in this era is a difficult proposition; there isn't really anything unique about TTU until TheFirstSighting kicks off the transformations and magic. It might be useful for flashbacks, exposition, or history.
All TTU characters are entitled to their own explanations for when and how things started, but actual experience with TTU-type forces pre-Changes is both rare and tenuous. If anything odd happened to a character before TheFirstSighting, it should be either explicable by coincidence; unverifiable and not particularly believable; or else within the boundaries of what magic can currently do in the "real world."
Revision [237]
Edited on 2006-12-21 02:27:14 by BaxilDragon [let's get some actual content here (w/formatting fix)]No Differences
Revision [236]
Edited on 2006-12-21 02:26:37 by BaxilDragon [let's get some actual content here (w/formatting fix)]Additions:
@@[[EraDragonInTheStreets Next Era]] "">>""@@
Deletions:
Additions:
=====Era: Pre-Changes=====
>>@@===[[CategoryEras Eras of TTU]]===@@
[[EraDragonInTheStreets Next Era]] "">>""
~{{color bg="slategray" text=" pre "}} ''Pre-Changes''
~{{color bg="crimson" text=" 1 "}} EraDragonInTheStreets (12/96)
~{{color bg="salmon" text=" 2 "}} EraTheShockSettlesIn (12/96)
~{{color bg="peachpuff" text=" 3 "}} EraNationOnTheBrink (1/97)
~{{color bg="palegoldenrod" text=" 4 "}} EraSchismAndStalemate (1/97)
~{{color bg="lime" text=" 5 "}} EraFromCausesToCrusades (2-8/97)
~{{color bg="cyan" text=" 6 "}} xx
~{{color bg="skyblue" text=" 7 "}} EraANewWorldOrder
~{{color bg="slateblue" text=" 8 "}} EraOverTheHorizon
>> //Before Wednesday, December 18, 1996//
**Starts with:** N/A
**Ends with:** TheFirstSighting
==Era Summary==
Until the final days of 1996, the history of the Tomorrowlands universe was almost indistinguishable from our own.
//Almost// indistinguishable, because there are hints that something was going on behind the scenes even before TheFirstSighting brought TheChanges to the attention of the planet.
How far back those hints extend depends on who you talk to. Some TTU residents, with the wisdom of hindsight, claim that all of Earth history was leading to this moment, or produce complex numerological calculations supposedly resolving to whatever moment they claim things began. Any number of mages, up to and including CharacterDennisRedwing, are of the opinion that magic was suppressed for some period of Earth history and TheChanges marked its return. One amateur physicist claimed it was a time echo caused by the explosion of the first nuclear bomb, complete with sine-wave diagrams peaking at presidential assassination attempts. The less conspiracy-minded generally discount all of this, although TheMissingMoment gives many pause.
Whatever the historical theory might be, the evidence cited usually includes the "statistically significant increase in paranormal sightings" one study found in looking through early December 1996 newspapers. (Statisticians widely argue over that study's counting methodology and sample size, and follow-up studies haven't clarified the situation any.) Also widely cited are any of a number of theris who claim to have transformed before TheFirstSighting, although their stories are conveniently free of verifiable facts and most dismiss them as publicity seekers.
One popular theory, vigorously denied by the man himself, is that TheChanges are all the product of Redwing's appearance and that he's the key to it all. Redwing himself argued in a book that the Earth itself was waking up, and that that process began long before December 1996 (though he refuses to offer further detail of when it might have started). Others blame aliens or an advanced intelligence or a cabal of secret world masters, all of whom are functionally making the same argument as the many Christians who describe it as the will of God. Some see no rhyme or reason to it, just a random hiccup of the universe.
But no matter how many college students stay up until sunrise arguing the question, what might have actually //caused// this shift (or return) is a matter of pure speculation. All that can be said for certain is that life went on doing its usual thing until a dragon was caught on camera one cold winter afternoon.
==Other Major Events==
TheMissingMoment
==Writing Tips==
Writing stories wholly set in this era is a difficult proposition; there isn't really anything unique about TTU until TheFirstSighting kicks off the transformations and magic. It might be useful for flashbacks, exposition, or history.
It might be interesting to inject an unverifiable and mysterious note of the occult into historical fiction as sort of a TTU "prequel," but canon issues would be an obstacle.
All TTU characters are entitled to their own explanations for when and how things started, but actual experience with TTU-type forces pre-Changes is both rare and tenuous. If anything odd happened to a character before TheFirstSighting, it should be either explicable by coincidence; unverifiable and not particularly believable; or else within the boundaries of what magic can currently do in the "real world."
==Notes==
==Associated Stories==
{{category}}
""//""//this needs to be filtered per WikiToDo -b//
----
CategoryEras
>>@@===[[CategoryEras Eras of TTU]]===@@
[[EraDragonInTheStreets Next Era]] "">>""
~{{color bg="slategray" text=" pre "}} ''Pre-Changes''
~{{color bg="crimson" text=" 1 "}} EraDragonInTheStreets (12/96)
~{{color bg="salmon" text=" 2 "}} EraTheShockSettlesIn (12/96)
~{{color bg="peachpuff" text=" 3 "}} EraNationOnTheBrink (1/97)
~{{color bg="palegoldenrod" text=" 4 "}} EraSchismAndStalemate (1/97)
~{{color bg="lime" text=" 5 "}} EraFromCausesToCrusades (2-8/97)
~{{color bg="cyan" text=" 6 "}} xx
~{{color bg="skyblue" text=" 7 "}} EraANewWorldOrder
~{{color bg="slateblue" text=" 8 "}} EraOverTheHorizon
>> //Before Wednesday, December 18, 1996//
**Starts with:** N/A
**Ends with:** TheFirstSighting
==Era Summary==
Until the final days of 1996, the history of the Tomorrowlands universe was almost indistinguishable from our own.
//Almost// indistinguishable, because there are hints that something was going on behind the scenes even before TheFirstSighting brought TheChanges to the attention of the planet.
How far back those hints extend depends on who you talk to. Some TTU residents, with the wisdom of hindsight, claim that all of Earth history was leading to this moment, or produce complex numerological calculations supposedly resolving to whatever moment they claim things began. Any number of mages, up to and including CharacterDennisRedwing, are of the opinion that magic was suppressed for some period of Earth history and TheChanges marked its return. One amateur physicist claimed it was a time echo caused by the explosion of the first nuclear bomb, complete with sine-wave diagrams peaking at presidential assassination attempts. The less conspiracy-minded generally discount all of this, although TheMissingMoment gives many pause.
Whatever the historical theory might be, the evidence cited usually includes the "statistically significant increase in paranormal sightings" one study found in looking through early December 1996 newspapers. (Statisticians widely argue over that study's counting methodology and sample size, and follow-up studies haven't clarified the situation any.) Also widely cited are any of a number of theris who claim to have transformed before TheFirstSighting, although their stories are conveniently free of verifiable facts and most dismiss them as publicity seekers.
One popular theory, vigorously denied by the man himself, is that TheChanges are all the product of Redwing's appearance and that he's the key to it all. Redwing himself argued in a book that the Earth itself was waking up, and that that process began long before December 1996 (though he refuses to offer further detail of when it might have started). Others blame aliens or an advanced intelligence or a cabal of secret world masters, all of whom are functionally making the same argument as the many Christians who describe it as the will of God. Some see no rhyme or reason to it, just a random hiccup of the universe.
But no matter how many college students stay up until sunrise arguing the question, what might have actually //caused// this shift (or return) is a matter of pure speculation. All that can be said for certain is that life went on doing its usual thing until a dragon was caught on camera one cold winter afternoon.
==Other Major Events==
TheMissingMoment
==Writing Tips==
Writing stories wholly set in this era is a difficult proposition; there isn't really anything unique about TTU until TheFirstSighting kicks off the transformations and magic. It might be useful for flashbacks, exposition, or history.
It might be interesting to inject an unverifiable and mysterious note of the occult into historical fiction as sort of a TTU "prequel," but canon issues would be an obstacle.
All TTU characters are entitled to their own explanations for when and how things started, but actual experience with TTU-type forces pre-Changes is both rare and tenuous. If anything odd happened to a character before TheFirstSighting, it should be either explicable by coincidence; unverifiable and not particularly believable; or else within the boundaries of what magic can currently do in the "real world."
==Notes==
==Associated Stories==
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CategoryEras
Deletions:
Until the late days of 1996, the history of the Tomorrowlands was almost indistinguishable from our own. After that, though, the world took quite a different course from Earth's.
